Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight

ABSTRACT

The existing bat cap is removed and the bat is threaded to match the threads on the “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” and the “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” is screwed in until tight. The “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” comes in varying weights measured in half ounce increments to provide a full range of available options.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is based on the following Provisional Patent information presented in Appendix one as follows:

-   U.S. application Ser. No. : 61/094,000 -   Filing date: Sep. 3, 2008

The present invention relates to bats used in baseball, softball and other sports activities. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable weight in the interior hollowed end of a bat for selectively modifying the mass, verification of the compliance with sport's governing body guidelines, and increasing performance of the bat.

Hollowed end bats are used in baseball, softball and other sports activities. Such bats are frequently constructed with composite, plastic, aluminum, titanium or other materials and have a handle end and an end for contacting a bail or other object. The contact end is hollowed, and the hollow is defined by an interior wall formed within the bat. The hollowed contact end provides an annular bat structure for contacting a bail or object while reducing the bat mass that must be accelerated as the bat is manipulated. The hollowed end permits a faster acceleration of the bat contact end, thereby imparting more energy to the bail or struck object.

Plastic end caps are positioned over a bat hollowed end to prevent entry of dirt and other debris. Plastic end caps are engaged with an annular recess within the hollow end interior wall. Such plastic caps are press fit into the annular recess and are not removable without destruction of the plastic cap.

Participants in baseball, softball and other sports activities often experiment with bats having different sizes and weights in an effort to identify the most efficient bat for the participant's needs. Participants often develop a preference for a particular bat, and insist on the availability of such bat for all playing conditions. However, the playing conditions and bat requirements often change due to player fatigue, changes in the participant's strength, or changes in the composition of the ball or other target.

When bat requirements change, a participant must locate another bat having the desired characteristics. This process is accomplished by purchasing or borrowing multiple bats and by experimenting until a bat with the desired characteristics is identified. The inefficiencies of this experimentation is apparent and does not permit slight adjustments after the initial bat selection is made. Additionally, a balance should be made between the location of mass in a bat that must be accelerated during operation, compared with the mass necessary to contact and transfer energy to the bail or struck object.

Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus for modifying a bat. The apparatus should be economic, easy to use, and should permit bat adjustments without requiring the purchase of additional bats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a unique apparatus for modifying the mass of a bat having a hollow end defined by an interior wall. The apparatus comprises an adjustable weight engaged with the interior wall of the bat hollow end for selectively modifying the mass of the bat.

The “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” is to be used in Baseball and Softball ranging from youth to professional levels. The “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” can be made out of plastic, composites materials, carbon fiber, carbon / nylon, aluminum and any ridged material and/or metal alloy or element that can be molded. All non-wood softball and baseball bats contain a plug that is not adjustable and therefore does not allow for the interchangeable weight that the “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” provides for the purposes of inspection, performance, and training needs associated with batting in baseball and softball. The larger end of all baseball and softball bats is called the barrel where “larger” is determined by the diameter portion of a bat. The barrel of the bat consists of a bat plug that provides permanent weighting of the bat. Inspection of a softball and/or baseball bat to make a determination if the bat adheres to the governing bodies limitations, with respect to the performance of the bat, is limited to very expensive testing methodologies that are not conducive on field examination. The “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” would allow for on field examination by any authorized individual of said governing bodies. The “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” would allow for the adjustment of the weight to assist in training for said related sports by varying the available weight. By allowing for varying the weight the “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” would increase the performance by providing the ability to optimize the players bat speed to peek levels. The “Adjustable Sports Bat Plug Weight” would reduce the economic burden of a player by eliminating the need to purchase multiple various weighted bats as is the case currently.

In other embodiments of the invention, a bushing can be engaged between the weight and the bat interior wall, and the weight can comprise two or more weight sections. The weight can be attached to the bushing with a fastener such as a threaded connection or a quick-connect mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: illustrates one embodiment of the invention showing a weight engaged with the interior wall of a bat hollow end.

FIG. 2: illustrates an exploded view of a weight attachable to a bushing engaged with a bat.

FIG. 3: illustrates a close up of the weight and hallowed end.

FIG. 4: illustrates a close up of the weight will exposing the interior wall.

FIG. 5: illustrates a close up of the end of the weight and weight recess.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an apparatus for modifying the mass of a bat for contacting a baseball, softball, or other object. The invention also modifies the performance of a bat by modifying the center of mass for a bat.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention, wherein bat 10 has handle 12 and contact end 14 forming an annular ring about hollow 16. Interior wall 18 of bat 10 defines the perimeter of hollow 16. Weight 20 is releasable attached to interior wall 18 so that weight 20 can be removed from contact with bat 10. As shown in FIG. 1, threaded connection 22 attaches weight 20 to interior wall 18, and weight recess 24, shown in FIG. 5, permits a tool (not shown) to rotate weight 20 into threaded engagement with bat 10. Alternative, the outer edge of weight 20 can be rotated by a person's hand to permit installation of weight 20 relative to interior wall 18. Conventional hollowed end bats can be threaded with minimal tooling to provide threaded connection 22 between weight 20 and interior wall 18.

Weight 20 has a selected mass, and the added mass of weight 20 selectively increases the mass of bat 10. Weight 20 can be removed from attachment with bat 10, and a lighter weight can be substituted in place of weight 20 to reduce the overall mass of bat 10. Alternatively, weight 20 can be removed from attachment with bat 10 and a heavier weight can be substituted in place of weight 20 to increase the overall mass of bat 10. The invention permits selective adjustments in the mass of bat 10 without requiring the replacement of bat 10. Consequently, the invention provides an economic, simple apparatus for adjusting the mass of a bat. By placing increased mass proximate to contact end 14 of bat 10, relatively small variations in the mass of weight 20 increases the torque acting on bat 10 because of the axial distance between the batter's hands and weight 20. A close up of this description can been seen in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

Significantly, the invention permits the overall center of mass for bat 10 to be moved along the longitudinal axis of bat 10. When a heavier weight is substituted for weight 20, the overall center of mass for bat 10 moves away from the batter's hands. When a lighter weight is substituted for bat 10, the overall center of mass for bat 10 moves toward the batter's hands. Additionally, weight 20 can be constructed as a composite wherein weight 20 is formed with a combination of materials having different masses. By varying the mass and composition of weight 20, a batter can adjust the response and performance of the bat while maintaining the same grip in precisely the same position on bat handle 12. The weight adjustments can be made without modifying the exterior shape of bat 10, thereby eliminating performances caused by air resistance during the batter's swing.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is disclosed in FIG. 2, wherein bat 26 is illustrated in attachment with bushing 28. Bushing 28 comprises any fixed or removable liner for attaching weight 30 and bat 26. Bushing 28 can be attached to bat 26 with adhesive material, solder, compression, and/or other conventional techniques. As illustrated, weight 30 has threads 32 which are engaged with matching thread form 34 on bushing 28. In this embodiment of the invention, different materials can be used for weight 30 and bushing 28. Weight 30 can comprise a metal, plastic, or composite material sufficient to provide the desired mass.

Bushing 28 can comprise a metal, plastic, or composite material sufficient to facilitate the attachment, retention, and detachment of weight 30. In one embodiment of the invention, threads 32 and thread form 34 can comprise a material, or can be coated with a friction resistant material which facilitates the attachment and detachment of weight 30 and bushing 28.

Other variations to the embodiments disclosed herein can be made to modify the performance of the weight. instead of having a solid center, weights 20 and 30 could have a hollow interior partially filled with a moveable, metallic or non-metallic material such as mercury, lead shot, or steel particles. As the bat is manipulated in an area, the moveable material would move outwardly relative to the bat handle due to centrifugal force. Such movement permits the center of mass to be concentrated toward the bat handle during the initial acceleration of the bat, and such movement moves the center of mass away from the bat handle during the bat swing. By moving the center of mass outwardly during the swing, such embodiment utilizes the torque of the bat handle to deliver maximum mass and acceleration to the region of the bat contacted by the bail or other object. In this fashion, the moveable material within the weight increases the efficiency of energy transfer between the bat and the bail or other object.

Although the invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications and improvements can be made to the inventive concepts herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The embodiments shown herein are merely illustrative of the inventive concepts and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. 

1. An apparatus for modifying the mass of a bat having a hollow end defined by an interior wall, comprising: an adjustable weight engaged with the interior wall of the bat hollow end, wherein the mass of said weight selectively modifies the mass of said bat.
 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said weight selectively increases or decreases the mass of said bat.
 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said weight comprises two or more weight sections detachably connected together for insertion within the bat hollow end.
 4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fastener for attaching said weight to the interior wall of the bat hollow end.
 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said fastener comprises a threaded connection between the interior wall and said weight.
 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said fastener comprises a releasable mechanism for selectively engaging and for disengaging the interior wall of the bat hollow end.
 7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a bushing attached between said weight and the interior wall of said bat hollow, wherein said weight is detachably attached to said bushing.
 8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said bushing is attached with an adhesive material to the interior wall of the bat hollow.
 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said weight is detachably attached to said bushing with a threaded connection.
 10. An apparatus for modifying the mass of a bat having a hollow end defined by an interior wall and an annular recess within the interior wall, comprising; a bushing attachable to the annular recess within the bat hollow end; and an adjustable weight engaged with said bushing for selectively modifying the mass of the bat.
 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said weight comprises two or more weight sections detachably connected together for engagement with said bushing.
 12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a fastener for detachably engaging said weight to said bushing.
 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said fastener comprises a threaded connection.
 14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said fastener comprises a spring loaded quick-release mechanism.
 15. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein s aid weight and said bushing close the bat hollow end.
 16. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a recess in said weight for permitting a rotational torque to be applied to said weight for attaching and detaching said weight from said bushing.
 17. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said weight contains a moveable material.
 18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said moveable material comprises metallic particles.
 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said bushing comprises a nonmetallic material.
 20. An apparatus allowing for the ability to remove the end cap on a baseball or softball bat for the purposes of inspection to verify the adherence of governing body standards against alteration.
 21. An apparatus that provides the adjustability to the player to increase or decrease the weight of the bat to enhance performance. 